2 Corinthians: 10:1

The accusations against Paul

As we don't have an epistle from the accusers, we're kind of reading between the lines.
this is one of the things that makes 2 Cor a tough book to study casually.

but there is a constant thread in the epistle of a number of ideas that give us a pretty good idea of what is happening.

1. It seems as though 'they' attacked Paul's 'Jewishness' (ironic huh?) (2 Cor 11:22)

2 Cor 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

2. Maybe questioning Paul's authority and validity as an apostle and messenger of Christ. (2 Cor 10:1,2, 2 Cor 10:10,11)

2 Cor 10:1,2 Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!
2.I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh.

2 Cor 10:10,11 For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible." 11.Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.

3. Paul's motives seem to be in question as well (2 Cor 1:12, 2 Cor 8:18-24, 2 Cor 11:7-9, 2 Cor 12:16,17)

Paul has felt the need to demonstrate his selfless motives to Corinth throughout the book.

2 Cor 1:12 For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.
Also 2 Cor 1:6, 2 Cor 2:4, 2 Cor 4:1-10,

They seem to accuse him of some questionable dealings with money...

2 Cor 8:18-24 Paul's precautions to be above reproach with the Jerusalem offering make a little more sense if this is the case.

2 Cor 11:7-9 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?
8. I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;
9. and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.

2 Cor 12:16,17 But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit. 17. Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?

The Accusers

We don't honestly know tons about them. Paul spends more time on defense than on offense...
But we can piece a few things together.

1. Jewish (2 Cor 11:22)

2 Cor 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

2. Maybe teaching something 'law' related? (2 Cor 3:7-18)

That would explain Paul's rant on the Old vs New covenants in 2 Cor. 3:7-18
It also matches what we know happened in other churches in this timeframe (e.g. Galations, one of the probable benefits of Paul's Jerusalem offering).

What would you do? How would you handle this situation?

Ever been the victim of malicious gossip? So was Paul.

Why is Paul willing to respond? (2 Cor 11:1-4)

2 Cor 11:1-4 I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me.
2. For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.
3. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
4. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

basically, the man is the message.
Paul is jealous for the Corinthians. He loves them and will defend himself because it is the Gospel that is actually being attacked (he is hated not for his speech but for his message).

Paul's Response:

1. Paul doesn't spend a ton of time attacking his accusers; he does land a few choice jibes however...

A. They're in it for the money. (they say I am? ha. they're the scumbags)
2 Cor 2:17 For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.

B. Paul also accuses them of being without understanding and of boasting in other men's labors (namely his) in 2 Cor 10:12-16
2 Cor 10:12-16 For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.
13. But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.
14. For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ;
15. not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men's labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you,
16. so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another.

Also - Note Paul's Sarcasm...

2 Cor 11:7,8 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge? 8. I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;

2 Cor 11:19-21 For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.
20. For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face.
21. To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison.

2 Cor 12:16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit.

Is this serious or not? Is it "the most eminent apostles" or "super apostles"?
2 Cor 11:5,6 For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles.
But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.

Sarcasm is not biblically wrong.

Sarcasm is wrong if it is used with unbiblical motives.
But the sheer act of making a statment sarcastically is clearly practiced.

2. Paul's Defense of his motives.

Defense of Integrity / Money (2 Cor 11:7-10, 2 Cor 12:13)

2 Cor 11:7-10 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge? 8.I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;
9.and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.
10.As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.
&nbps;
2 Cor 12:13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Defense of Motives (2 Cor 11:11, 2 Cor 11:23-29, 2 Cor 12:15, 2 Cor 13:4)

Basically, Paul demonstrates how ridiculous the idea of his using the Gospel for personal benefit is :
2 Cor 11:23-29 Are they servants of Christ?--I speak as if insane--I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
24. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
25. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
26. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
27. I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
28. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.
29. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?

Further, Paul emphasizes how desperately he loves Corinth - he asserts his motive is care for them.
2 Cor 11:11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

2 Cor 12:15 "So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?"

2 Cor 13:4 "we will live with him to serve you"

Defenses of Divine Commission / Authority

Paul asserts in no uncertain terms that he is "God's Man" - and if he is being attacked, it is God that is being attacked.
and you just can't beat God.

2 Cor 10:3-7 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
4. for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
5. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
6. and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
7. You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's,
let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.

(the trump card: i've been to heaven. so there.)
2 Cor 12:1-10 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
3. And I know how such a man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows--
4. was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
5. On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
6. For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.
7. Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself!
8. Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.
9. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
10. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Cor 13:10 For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.